Norris and Brinker Named UD December/January Athletes of the Month
Feb 9, 2016
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Senior Andre Norris and junior Emily Brinker averaged 23.1 and 17.1 points per game, respectively, to lead their respective University of Dubuque basketball teams and were named the UD’s December/January Athletes of the Month.
Led by Norris, the University of Dubuque men’s basketball team finished 10-4, 6-2 Iowa Conference in December and January and held the top spot in the conference.
During that stretch of six non-conference games and eight IIAC games, Norris averaged 23.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game to go with 59.0% field goal shooting. The senior led the nation and the conference in defensive rebounding and was second in the IIAC in scoring. Norris collected 10+ rebounds in all but four games and scored 24+ points seven times.
The reigning Iowa Conference MVP had arguably his best game against rival Loras that was broadcast live on local KCRG 9.2 on January 27 after posting 34 points (including 24 in the first half) with 15 boards on 14 of 18 (77.8%) shooting. Norris also garnered UD Jon Davison Classic MVP honors in the Spartans last two games of December, both wins, against Illinois Institute of Technology and Mt. Mercy.
Brinker averaged a team-high 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds in December and January, but orchestrated a masterful, career-best 41-point, 14-rebound performance in an overtime defeat to Loras on January 27.
The junior’s 41-point outburst was the highest in the Iowa Conference this season and led to nationally known Hero Sports D3 Women’s Basketball Hero of the Week honor and Iowa Conference Female Basketball Performer of the Week accolades. Brinker was an all-around threat as the only IIAC player in the Top-6 in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (7.8 rpg), and blocks (1.2 bpg) through nine IIAC games (eight in January).
Brinker also averaged 15.5 point and 10.5 boards and was named to the UD Jon Davison Classic All-Tournament team at the end of December after helping lead the Spartans to the Tournament Championship with victories over Defiance (Ohio) and Grinnell.
Norris and the Spartan men will make a push towards their first IIAC regular season title since 1990 while Brinker and the Spartan women aim for their seventh straight IIAC Tournament berth with four IIAC games remaining in February.
